Syrian Army troops fully besieged Harasta’s city center today, as troops in Madyara linked up with troops to the north of Harasta city. This is sure to put the pressure on Ahrar al-Sham militants to surrender and be evacuated, or be crushed.

On the southern end of the battlefield, Army troops advanced into the farming town of Jisreen after capturing the smaller village of Aftaris to its east. Shells and airstrikes continued to rain down on the cities of the southern pocket, while to the north, Douma was spared the brunt of the barrage. A massive number of Syrian Army troops are gathering around Douma and Harasta, signalling that the major assault to capture these two cities is imminent.

By Peter Bucci